Legit news

Corsair Enters the Power Supply Market

Corsair Memory today announced the introduction of the Corsair HX Series power supply product line. The HX Series modular power supplies mark a new exciting first for Corsair. As the latest entrant into the power supply industry, Corsair’s best in class, high performance, ultra-efficient power supplies are expected to set new performance expectations for modular power supply solutions. The CMPSU-620HX (620Watt) and CMPSU-520HX (520Watt)are available immediately. Legit Reviews is working on a review of the CMPSU-620HX power supply and will have it out shortly.

Corsair’s HX Series feature an enhanced modular cable solution, offering flexible cables for superior cable routing. The modular design eliminates cable clusters and optimizes the airflow inside the computer case to help keep the system cool. Available in 620Watt and 520Watt models, the HX Series efficiently delivers continuous fully rated output with solid triple +12V rails for a combined maximum output rating of 50Amp (40Amp on 520Watt) even at 50ºC ambient temperature. These output ratings exceed the requirements for even the most power hungry computers. Additionally, the HX620W and HX520W models offer native support for dual graphics card configurations and include two PCI-Express cables. The HX Series has been thoroughly tested and is compatible with today’s NVIDIA’s SLI and ATI’s Crossfire solutions.

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Chip sales rise despite price cuts

Despite plunging prices for CPUs, worldwide semiconductor sales rose 9.4 percent from last year, reaching $58.9 billion for the second quarter. This is great news for the industry and shows that the industry is still alive and kicking even though Microsoft Vista is delayed.

The industry struggled as giants Intel and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) slashed prices in new chip wars, helping to drive the average price of a laptop down by 18 percent compared to the second quarter of 2005, according to figures released Thursday by the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA). That global trend was mirrored in the U.S. where the average price for retail notebook PCs dropped from $1,141 in the second quarter of 2005 to $938 a year later, according to Current Analysis.

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Apple to move quickly on Merom-based systems

Unwilling to relent in its assault on the US notebook market, Apple Computer plans to adopt Intel Corp.'s latest mobile processors at a rapid pace, AppleInsider has learned. According to a source familiar with the Mac maker's plans, the company is slated to receive mass shipments of the new Merom Core 2 Duo processors by the first week of September and plans to be amongst the first PC manufacturers to introduce systems based on the new chips. It will be interesting to see if Apple is the first company out the door with Intel Merom based products.

In the three-month period ending July 1st, Apple reported record-setting shipments of Mac systems, including nearly 800,000 notebooks -- 75 percent of which the company estimated were Intel-based. So far, the success of Apple's Intel systems has hinged on a single line of processors, the 32-bit Core Duo series formerly code-named Yonah. But in recent weeks, Intel has rolled-out far more capable chips in its 64-bit line of Core 2 Duo processors, including a mobile variant known by its code-named Merom.

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Double the cores, double the chip heat?

The earth may be heating up, but Intel and Advanced Micro Devices are determined to keep PC warming trends in check. The article over at CNET is an interesting read and talks about quad-core Kentsfield moving over to a 45nm process next year!

Intel, fresh off the launch of its Core 2 Duo chips, has announced plans to accelerate the introduction of a quad-core processor called Kentsfield, now expected in the fourth quarter. Not to be outdone, AMD later this year will release a product called "4x4," which is two AMD processors connected together on a high-end motherboard. Intel hasn't announced specific plans for quad-core processors beyond Kentsfield, Alfs said. Sources familiar with Intel's plans have indicated that when the company is ready to move from its current 65-nanometer manufacturing process to a 45-nanometer one next year, it will start with dual-core chips to make the transition easier. And then at some later date, it will be ready to build quad-core chips with the smaller 45-nanometer transistors on a single piece of silicon, unlike the multichip package used for Kentsfield.

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Google in 3-Way Media Player Deal

Google, maker of fine search products, and RealNetworks, maker of a loathsome yet inexplicably popular media player, have extended their deal to promote Google software across Real's entertainment and multimedia products. Mozilla is horning in on the action too. Together, all three of the companies have agreed to distribute Firefox and the Google Toolbar along with Real's RealPlayer software.

The deal is only Google's latest distribution pact. Earlier this year Google signed agreements with computer maker Dell to distribute software on its desktops and laptops, and with software company Adobe to distribute Google Toolbar via downloads of Adobe's Shockwave. Mozilla's Firefox browser is currently used by about 15 percent of Web users. RealPlayer is currently the second most popular media software after Windows Media Player, with about 28 million unique users. No financial terms of the deal were disclosed.

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No. 3 PC maker Gateway Loses $7.7 million

Gateway maintained its track record of underachievement, as the No. 3 PC maker in the U.S. reported weaker-than-expected results Thursday. Irvine, Calif.-based Gateway said it lost $7.7 million, or 2 cents a share, on $919 million in sales in the three months ended June 30, compared with a profit of $17.2 million, or 5 cents a share, on sales of $873 million the same time a year ago.

Wall Street analysts were looking for the computer maker to earn a profit of 2 cents a share, with $1 billion in revenue, according to Thomson Financial. Shares of Gateway rose 0.6%, or one penny, to $1.60 in extended trading. The company's stock is trading near its 52-week low. Two weeks ago, Gateway was dropped from the S&P 500. "While we are disappointed with our performance in the second quarter, we believe that our efforts in the first half of the year are beginning to resonate with customers and move us in a positive direction," said interim CEO Rick Snyder in a statement.
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